Well, it seems like Ben Simmons is not really trying to help himself get into an NBA roster spot next season, after all.
The former Philadelphia 76ers star, who has been at the center of attention as of late, finds his NBA career in serious jeopardy. Recent reports have popped up saying that the three-time All-Star is contemplating retirement, especially in light of his failure to secure a new contract and play for a new team next season.
But apparently, Simmons has also brought this situation upon himself. According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Simmons rejected a recent contract offer from the Knicks, foreclosing the possibility of him returning to New York after spending some time as part of the Brooklyn Nets before getting his contract bought out and subsequently landing in Los Angeles last season.
This is most definitely a baffling development, especially since the market for Simmons is far from an abundant one. But more importantly, this sends a strong signal as to what the 29-year-old thinks of his footing at this crucial point in his once-promising career.
Former 76ers star Ben Simmons reportedly gave the Knicks a cold shoulder
All summer long, New York was consistently hoisted as a team that showed legitimate interest in adding Simmons into the fold. After all, the Knicks were looking to get more size at forward, and he definitely touts that envied mix of size and skill, alongside positional versatility.
But with Simmons basically giving the Knicks the cold shoulder, he seems to be looking at an opportunity to get a consistent role on the hardwood. New York, with its loaded roster, is not really capable of giving him what he wants, as their team already has a lot of mouths to feed when it comes to playing time.
This development, however, is simply bad news for the former 76ers star. There is no other team out there that would be willing to retrofit their roster to accommodate his hard-to-integrate skill set. His injury concerns have not dissipated either, making him a really tough sell at this very juncture.
Simmons should embrace the reality he is currently facing. As they say, those at the bottom of the food chain do not get to choose their snacks. He has to take whatever opportunity is presented to him, especially since his options are not exactly looking ample right now.
The former Philadelphia 76ers star is still way too good to retire this early, but at some point, he also has to help himself.